MOUNT LAUREL, N.J. (AP) — A New Jersey Republican congressional candidate criticized his Democratic opponent Friday amid mounting evidence that Democratic officials planted a tea-party candidate in the race to siphon off conservative votes.
“My opponent, John Adler, represents everything that is wrong with politics in our country today,” Republican Jon Runyan said. “I would ask for an apology. But frankly, an apology from someone like Congressman Adler would be so meaningless that it’s not worth seeking.”
He spoke at a news conference Friday as Adler, a first-term Democratic lawmaker, and his campaign remained mum about a report in the Courier-Post of Cherry Hill in which Democratic operatives speaking on the condition of anonymity confirmed what Republicans have believed for months: That tea-party candidate Peter DeStefano was put on the ballot by Democrats.
The operatives said a county Democratic employee is running at least the Web elements of DeStefano’s campaign.
Tea party organizations, which have denounced DeStefano since he entered the race in June, called on him Friday to quit.
DeStefano and Adler have previously denied the accusations. DeStefano, Adler and top officials in Adler’s campaign and did not return calls or e-mails from The Associated Press on Friday.
In an August interview with the AP, DeStefano excoriated both Adler and Runyan.
He fended off questions about Republicans‘ accusations and tea party organizations’ claims that he wasn’t even a member, though he was running for Congress with the slogan “New Jersey Tea Party.” While there are several tea party groups in New Jersey, none goes by that name. Some tea party groups are supporting Runyan.
“Any American citizen can run for any office they want,” DeStefano said. “I think it’s time we get past this crap.”
He refused to answer questions about precisely when he decided to run.
In August, Adler told the Courier-Post: “I know we weren’t part of it.”
Runyan said his campaign was looking into whether there’s any legal action that could be taken against Adler.
The operatives told the Courier-Post the plan was shared with members of the South Jersey Young Democrats, and some in that group gathered signatures for DeStefano — while others didn’t because they thought the plan was unethical.
Republicans started raising suspicions about DeStefano months ago when they found many of the signatures on his nominating petitions were from Democrats, including a former Adler campaign staffer.
The campaign has been nasty and not especially focused on policy issues.
Adler has criticized Runyan for eschewing open-format debates, keeping donkeys on his property to qualify part of it for a lower agricultural tax rate and not denouncing spending by independent conservative groups that have targeted Adler.
Runyan, meanwhile, has expressed outrage, claiming Adler falsely tried to link him with Republicans who want to privatize social security. He also filed charges accusing an Adler campaign volunteer of harassing his 8-year-old daughter while she played outside Runyan’s home.
___
Information from: Courier-Post, http://www.courierpostonline.com/
Submitting your tip... please wait!
Comments (111)
MiketheTrucker
Posted on October 8, 2010 at 9:34pmThe “evidence is mounting” that democrats are conniving, thieving, corrupt, hypocritical thugs who will resort to ANYTHING to retain power.
This tactic speaks volumes to what their true intentions for the American people are. WATCH OUT!!
Report Post »NHABE64
Posted on October 8, 2010 at 9:33pmI would not put anything past these liberal progressives (formerly the Democratic Party). They are running scared because they know America has had enough of their lies and rhetoric. They know their time is coming, and it will be pink slips for most of these shoe scum. God bless this great Christian country. Obama and his phony czars and other corrupt comrades are going down.
Report Post »Carl McPherson
Posted on October 8, 2010 at 9:26pmWouldn’t surprise me:
Report Post »http://tinyurl.com/gods-copybook-heading
aircraftmag
Posted on October 8, 2010 at 9:09pmI’m not surprised. I will not be shocked if it comes out that groups like Acorn, DNC, Black Panthers, NAACP, Sharpton, Jackson, rig the elections.
Report Post »dustyzz
Posted on October 8, 2010 at 10:17pmOr worse. The libs have proven they have no problem breaking the law. And Holder won’t prosecute them. The October surprises will be vicious this year. Election day may bring widespread violence. It’s not beyond the Obama regime to try to call off election day to avoid the rout and maintain lib power.
Report Post »Goldenyears22
Posted on October 9, 2010 at 2:29amMe either, and if they do, who will stand up for what is right with the kind of judges we see these days. In the old days when you watched the cowboy movies, right always won out, but today
Report Post »in real life it seems evil wins a lot of the time. We can’t give in, we have to remain strong and fight the good fight.
Mick
Posted on October 8, 2010 at 9:07pmA little AC/DC Dirty Deeds done Dirt Cheep if you please. . . .
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fvP0uwl3Q6A
Report Post »Contrarianthinker
Posted on October 8, 2010 at 8:56pmDirty tricks will get worse and worse as Progressives lose their power. Just expect it and plan for it.
Report Post »Dustyluv
Posted on October 8, 2010 at 8:53pmConservatives just need to find a green party candidate to run. The left are suckers for a windmill worshipper…
Report Post »The_Truth
Posted on October 8, 2010 at 8:50pmSaul Alinksky’s Rules for Radicals. If the ends justify the means then game on.
Report Post »Miami
Posted on October 8, 2010 at 8:44pmHow low can they go…?
Fist they accuse conservatives of propping up Green in South Carolina and now they actually do it them selves. I don’t even want to think what else they might do,…I would want to give them any ideas.
Report Post »sWampy
Posted on October 8, 2010 at 8:31pmWe will roll over, I remember 15 years or so ago, Mississippi had a governors race won by the democrat by less than 300 votes, 400+ more people voted for the democrat in his home county than were registered to vote in that county. Monday before the election the paper printed the number of registered voters in each county, Wednesday they printed the same but instead of registered voters, how many voted for each. All you had to do was hold the two up side by side, and compare. The republican didn’t even challenge the election, and we went from having just cut welfare rolls by 2/3rds and having a huge budges surplus, to having welfare rolls larger than ever, no rainy day fund four years later. ;-(
Report Post »flagbearer
Posted on October 8, 2010 at 8:48pmYour state’s good name has been dragged through the mud by Hollywood and the media for a long, long time. People throughout the US are now experiencing much of the same thing you folks down there have been putting up with for years. Hang in there, as we are finally waking up to the dirty politics and corruption.
Report Post »poverty.sucks
Posted on October 8, 2010 at 8:24pmTea Party is simply a movement of conservative principles made up of Republicans, Independents and Democrats. It’s anyones game, yet, must pass the smell test. When you have a bunch of Democrats stating this is the man to vote for, most often that’s what they do. Conservatives and Christians expect answers, so when those start dodging and spinning, guess what, more questions. When Adam & Eve hid in the garden, God spoke, where are you. We as Gods people ask potential representatives, where are you on this issue. Trustworthy individuals will have “the” answer.
Report Post »K-Girl
Posted on October 8, 2010 at 8:24pmBusted!
Report Post »Thatsitivehadenough
Posted on October 8, 2010 at 8:22pmIf any evidence of this can be found I’m pretty sure it is a federal crime to interfere with an election and charges can be filed against the NJ Democrats involved.
I wouldn’t put it past them though, as nothing is too low for their criminal minds.
But read this one just for a laugh in the meantime, it may cheer you up: http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/columnists/ct-met-kass-obama-1007-20101007,0,7435344.column
Report Post »Contrarianthinker
Posted on October 8, 2010 at 8:58pmProblem is that courts will do NOTHING. Very few judges are moral and beleive in the Constitution and justice.
Report Post »dano1252
Posted on October 8, 2010 at 8:22pmDeStefano was outed back in June by the Burlington co Tea party, it’s not hard to spot a faker. The dirty tactics by the left are nothing new here in the “Soprano State”
Report Post »timeisnow
Posted on October 8, 2010 at 8:55pmDano
But someone from within the Dems party ratted them out to the Press, We knew all along but now they confirmed it.
Report Post »FANGS
Posted on October 8, 2010 at 8:20pmSo what should we do when they’re caught again fixing elections this year. What if some dems get in where the polling clearly showed repub majority.
Report Post »t00nces2
Posted on October 8, 2010 at 8:18pmThe thing is, the Tea Party members are plugged into the political process enough to know this guy is scamming them.
Republicans should run a candidate for the Huffa Hooka Party and see how many Hopeless Chains dopes they can siphon off the Dem candidate.
Report Post »FANGS
Posted on October 8, 2010 at 8:16pmHey future members of congress. Just so you know, We the people are going to vote you in and give you the power you need to reverse obama’s adjenda and to put some people in jail. But Please make sure you remember this one thing.If you are unsucessful in stoping the socialist adjenda. We will as taxpayers of this country Revolt. We will, as a country say NO MORE. and we will stop them ourselves.We appreciate all that the republicans are doing and will do. Americans will not live under a dictatorship and threats. We will Revolt.
Report Post »docvet
Posted on October 9, 2010 at 1:40pmGlenn says no violence, but what‘s left if there isn’t real conservative change? As we have seen, a lot of damage can be done in two, four and six years.
We military veterans have served our country once. But, like George Washington, apparently we haven’t done enough yet!
Report Post »docvet
Posted on October 9, 2010 at 1:43pmI forgot to add: WELL SAID!
Report Post »RobertCA
Posted on October 8, 2010 at 8:14pmMy GOD the Dems can‘t believe that they’re loosing , what’s next ? getting candidates from the Talibans ?
Report Post »Let this be a lesson for the Republicans too , if you don‘t listen to WE THE PEOPLE you’ll be voted out too .
t00nces2
Posted on October 8, 2010 at 8:13pmThe funny thing is, the Tea Party movement people are plugged into the political process enough to know they are being scammed by this dude.
Republicans should run a candidate on the Huffa Hooka Party to see how many of those who bought into the Hopeless Chains promise could be siphoned off the Dem candidate.
Report Post »printdesignchicago.com
Posted on October 9, 2010 at 10:46amhuffa hookah party…. LMAO!
Report Post »BlueStrat
Posted on October 9, 2010 at 2:30pmIn every district the Dems try running a stalking-horse “Tea Party” candidate, just run a candidate for the “Democratic Socialist Party”. All the little Democrat socialist drones would flock to such a candidate, heavily splitting the Democrat votes. Heck, the DSP candidate may even get more votes than the Dem does in far-left districts/states.
Strat
Report Post »printdesignchicago.com
Posted on October 8, 2010 at 8:11pmgiven the abhorrent antics of the democraps in congress and the senate…even the president! should we be surprised to know of corruption amongst the politicians? both sides have major offenders. time to clean house!
DO YOUR HOMEWORK! REMEMBER IN NOVEMBER!
Report Post »Jamestown
Posted on October 9, 2010 at 6:04amWOW…who just said that…“DO YOUR HOMEWORK”
And remember…republicans are just dirt of another color…as many of the non conservative. Are republicans as dipsh_tocrats
Report Post »MistaB
Posted on October 8, 2010 at 8:09pmThe ends justifies the means!!
Report Post »Alvin691
Posted on October 8, 2010 at 8:04pmWhat’s funny is that the Dems could have created their own Tea Party if it was dedicated to ending corruption, stuck to Constitutional principals, and pushed for lower spending and taxes. They simply tried to mock it and attack it with the Coffee party, which was an udder failure.
Report Post »Jamestown
Posted on October 9, 2010 at 5:52amWhy did dems not correct corruption…THEY ARE THE CORRUPT !…the plan to overthrow the Constitution has one method other than ratified amendment…..Corruption…they don’t have the balls to speak truth…this is why our founding fathers designed it this way…to amend…they must have 66%…they haven’t got 30%….only way democrat can stay around is to CORUPT THE SYSTEM…
Alvin ….SEE STREET WHORES FOR WHO THEY ARE…
Report Post »Independent Tess
Posted on October 8, 2010 at 7:59pmGoes to show how desperate Dems are, and how devious. These kinds of dirty tricks will get worse as it gets close to elections (2010 and 2012). Be on guard for their counterfeits.
Report Post »I doubt if I will believe ANYTHING the Democrats say.
Goldenyears22
Posted on October 9, 2010 at 2:25amI think we need to keep our eyes open. Who knows what dirty tricks they have up their evil little
Report Post »minds for election day? I would put nothing past them, the party of no ethics.
Shortcake
Posted on October 8, 2010 at 7:58pmRelated: Black Maoist chick behind deadly 1979 ‘Greensboro’ rally now organizing anti-Tea Party events
Report Post »http://www.fivefeetoffury.com/:entry:fivefeet-2010-10-08-0007/
DagneyT
Posted on October 8, 2010 at 11:16pmAs a five foot female, I love the name of your blog! Mine is Dagney’s Rant. http://www.dagneysrant.com Love it!
Report Post »Marylou7
Posted on October 8, 2010 at 7:56pmWhat else are the dems going to try. However, we know that they will do just about anything to get elected and I mean anything.
Report Post »Miami
Posted on October 8, 2010 at 8:39pmIs there no level liberals won’t stoup to????
Report Post »timeisnow
Posted on October 8, 2010 at 8:52pmThe Tea Parties from the Independence Hall Tea Party PacWest Jersey Tea Party, Cherry Hill Tea Parties, had a Rally tonight at Chief Tavern, in Medford NJ, where DeStefano was having a Fund Raiser, to request he quit the Race on grounds of Fraud…I don’t know what happened, so if anyone has the rest of the story fill us in..
Report Post »We got this email blast that filled the South Jersey Internet, emails to get out the word about this disgraceful disgusting Democrat John Adler. We are glad the word is out and hope this brings him down…
Sheepdog911
Posted on October 8, 2010 at 8:57pmAnd we should be surprised by Democratic Astro-turds, why?
Report Post »IthinkandIvote
Posted on October 8, 2010 at 9:14pmThis is nothing new. Alan Grayson did the same thing in Orlando. His campaign funneled 40K to the Florida Tea Party for “political consulting” via another political consultant Doug Goetzler. The idea is to split the opposition vote leaving him the winner over Daniel Webster. Orlando TV station, Channel 6, rooted this out.
Report Post »roguetea
Posted on October 9, 2010 at 2:55amrogue, Trust Energized Americans
Yes, I am sure they will try anything and everything as long as they get desired results. However, the ultimate test is the secrecy of 11-2. Obviously, vigilance has proven effective. Good job, good folks in NJ. Will diligence over these next few weeks prove the upcoming test?
Dems play nasty childish pranks while we work towards honorable restoration. Who do you think will win? Mere suspicion of corruption of this magnitude should be enough to cause tea party patriots to select safer options. More elections will follow. This movement is still quite young and easily victimized. Nov will change more than we can now calculate… that is why they call it 20-20 hindsight. Fear not the integrity of the tea party in these troubling days.
I applaud the tea party summit in VA. I expect many more States to discover similar outbursts. I am not big on joining and will always advocate the power in the tea party is in tightly held patriotic affirmation while living loose organization. Another year of momentum and loose association will greatly diminish the chances for scam and deceit.
Report Post »tea party, ReAct 2010, ROGUE ON
BehindBlueEyes
Posted on October 9, 2010 at 6:17amThe end justifies the means. Most people on the left subscribe to that belief. We’ll be seeing more and more underhanded methods in the future. Bill O’Reily had a Democratic strategist on the other night talking about the Grayson ads. She basically supported his Grayson’s methods.
Report Post »Michigan Vacation
Posted on October 9, 2010 at 8:10amJust like here in Michigan – where the Democrats tried to put a Fake “TEA PARTY” on the Ballot simply to divide the conservative vote.
. The petition drive was identified and “discovered it was being done by Progressive Campaigns Inc. out of California.”
They used 20 something’s to sign up as FAKE candidates – all Michigan Dem insiders – and they only ran them in tough GOP races.
This is the ‘Liberal Progressive Democrat Party’ in action – one full bucket of lies and misdirection simply to get the vote/power.
Report Post »firstHat
Posted on October 9, 2010 at 9:12am@IthinkandIvote This is a bit different. Where in the case you mention he used the tea parties themselves, here the 9/12 and tea party groups here in south jersey are NOT supporting this guy. I don’t know any of us who got funding to support him (most our funding comes from passing the hat). This guy is a total fake as far as I know. Non of my mail from NJ teaparties (and I think I get mail from all of them) seem to be supporting him.
Report Post »Beckofile
Posted on October 9, 2010 at 9:15amBetter yet…..Did the Democrat Party plant Socilist and Communist in the 2008 election. Or ….Did the Democrat Party help plant a progressive in the 2008 GOP primary for president?
Report Post »minnierv
Posted on October 9, 2010 at 9:56amHahahaha, Miami. Is that a serious question? If so, your answer is No, there isn’t.
Report Post »VegasGuy
Posted on October 9, 2010 at 11:34amEvery legitimate tea party activist here in Nevada suspects that Scott Ashjian is a “Tea Party” plant by Harry Reid’s campaign. Scott Ashjian hasn‘t got a snow ball’s chance but he refuses to get out of the race.
Report Post »FIRED UP FREE MAN !
Posted on October 9, 2010 at 1:19pmWe have officially entered the Twilight Zone!
Center for American Progress
“Progressives throughout history have venerated the ideals of America’s Founding, particularly as expressed in the Declaration of Independence (the presentation of which is pictured above) and the Preamble to the U.S. Constitution.”
http://www.americanprogress.org/issues/2010/10/progressive_traditions5.html
SOROS IN CHAINS !
Report Post »Robert W
Posted on October 9, 2010 at 3:31pmIm shocked that democrats would stoop so low……just kiddin. Im shocked they havent done it sooner.
Report Post »IthinkandIvote
Posted on October 9, 2010 at 8:53pmI don’t know how it is in the rest of the country, but here in central Florida Democrats are doing TV and radio commercials, print ads and mailings without mentioning their party affiliation. Grayson, Kosmas, and Beaven are all running for congressional seats and not one of them admits to being a Democrat. All of them avoid their support of Obamacare, financial deformity and GM (G’ummint Motors) and the failed stimulus. All of them have devoted 90% of their ads to bashing and lying about their opposition. They know that they have an upopular progressive socialist program to support and they continue to remain silent about that. This is the new reality for Democrats, when you got nothing to brag about bash the other guy.
Report Post »KingArthurUp
Posted on October 11, 2010 at 11:08amGo obama go!!!!
Report Post »